New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-03


her in one of thcm and he sees this boat run upon
small island. when he loses sight Of her. Or
awalSny he finds that he has risen in the night
and drawn vivid sketch of the island of his
startling dream. So deeply is he impressed with
the experience that when in due time news f.
received of the Veruam's destruction at sea by
fire. he concludes that his dream is to be fulfilled to
the end becomes fixed in the belief that his bctlo,h
cd is on the island which WIS shown him, and at
once takes sters to ascertain the precise situation
of this island resolved to go in search of the ship
wrecked if he can discover the latitude and longi
tude Of the place. The sketch OF the island. which
he causes to be engraved, falls into the hands of
an old sailor, who recognizes in IL the spot where
he himself had been cast when wrecked. This old
man is persuaded to accompany Foitescue, the
count and fleet schooner having been purchased
and fitted out, tho strange voyage is begun. The
account OF the passage out is overloaded with dis
cursiye ana trivial description. but as the Golden
Hope approaches the supposed locality OF
the island tie interest steadily increases
until it becomes intense. Throughout
the voyage there Is strong under
current of doubt and uneasiness Forfcscue him
SELF though borne up by deep conviction, cannot
escape this feeling, and the captain and mate OF
the schooner though one of them has been on the
island are in n state Of ITiacd disquietudc. This
part OF the story is powerfully told, and is better
work than Mr. Russell has done before, II we OK
ccpt, rcrhars, tho wreck OF the Grosvenor
How mt last the island doomed up before them
how they landed on it and how the cuate's dream
was bona out TO the end the disappointment &c
companvlng the success Of the quest the many
stirring incidents Of the voyage homc and the
conclusion Of the story, we shall not spoil for the
reader by relating here. There is a psychologist
problem in the Golden Hope rs well rs n s'- n
natural foi ndaton. and the former Is slilfully
and even scientifically developed. II Mr.. Russell
would rctrcnch somewhat lis too fluent and clabo-
rate descriptions Of marine atmospheric and me
tcoroo ical phenomena, his stories would De
worthy Of high praise. We would by no means
eliminate all Of these descriptions, however, Tor
some Of them, rs for instance that Of tho cyclone
arc not only highly interesting. but faithful IN 1"
striking DECREE As however, no wing writer has
ANYTHING like lis command OF sea Knowledge, II
could be wished that he would pure his text OF
the defects which at present interfere with the
enjoyment Of 1t.
Mr.. Thomas Hardy Is most at home in tho rural
life Of In!lard and few write lave studied L
more tho.ouchly or described il more clcvuly
In matter Of Gi lcct he perhaps appears more pre-
else than he really t. for IN the present novel he
employs sometimes n rat0is which would hardly be
recognized in the Sussex region. which Is The
sccne q alton. Ills country people. however
are always orifnal. quaint. ard inprcsratcd with
what nj all events resembles local usage and
color, and tlcy are apt 10 possess n queer. dry
philo.orhv q their own. the expression of which
is peculiar and attractive Tile Woodlandcrs
is one # tlc.c careful studies Of English country
life The score Is set in a little village so far OF
tie iI-hway tlat it has been almost forgotten and
has p.oddcd nonC in its own SLOW. placid way,
ignoring tie fcvcrsh velocity with wh'h what T.
called rro~rc.s cnduos everything Which comes
undor ite influence. in this VILLAGE little drama
is quietly unfold. d. Ilcrc Is n prosperous farmer
who desires that his only daughter Shall occupy u
higher social post on than lis capacities have
fucd him for. and WHO has her carcfulv cducatcd
10 that end. 1hcrc Is n Young man 81 tho yillacc
who loves tho rrl. md Tor W. ION She docs 1t
care until later. who is alternately encouraged md
rcbuncd ~ her father. and who hns n very fine
and noble character. The girl herself IS cui,.
matcal. rs any girl might be II 50 placed. ldu
Gated above her circle she allows herself u re-
rcive the addresses Of n youn, doctor ~ low pin
'iplcS who has newly settled IN the yillsc md
the father. ticI,lcd by the superior education Of
His suitor. dscards the humber but better man.
Then there is a Lady Of tho manor. n beautiful
widow. who fosrnatcs the weak doctor after De
IS married. 50 tina, he nc-lrcis lis vito first ani
Inally deserts her. running OF TO tho continent
with The wicked widow.
There Is TO son N ionali,n I'm the plot II I'M
To's itself IN lcisurcy fashion, with the nlm1urc
tic sylvan scenery. tho agricultural occupati ions
lie important. chan 6 Of season. which mean So
much in tic country. All the passions arc indeed
At work, and veal and result from their 81 era
ions. Put the llnc is low. 1horc Is 10 intensity
IN tie outward mantle IL ors. Tic hero Of the
story literally lay down IN, life for the woman DC
owes. but in So simple, unhcatrical, na!tcrlf fact
way that the greatness Of the sacrifice and It's
nobility seem natural and in keeping. There Is n
ra%c nj mOsphcrc about the life Of Marty South
poor girl who silently and hopclcsssy loves this
amc hero, he never suspocting her secret. But in
he underwriting toll and Grudgciy Of her exist
.ace all high passion gets beaten down and re-
rcsscd, and though there is in this sd and som
IRE fnc the dim suggestion Of even finer spirit
han Grace Mclburys, the idea Is left in outline
That Grace should consent TO renew her conncc-
ion with the fathlcss Iitllicrs is in some sense n
Isappointmcnt IL Is true that after the pitifnl
lcath Of Giles " ntcrbourne she NAV be said to
nave no Iutufc' Out ii she was really worthy the
devotion Of Giles she could hardly have reconccd
lcrself 10 live again with the husband who had
abandoned her so cn.cly. Sun IT must be remember.
d that she married him without loving him, and a
woman capable Of that must have a certain coaise-
ness IN her nature. II Is with all it, faults an
story, and If somewhat sad, fun of a
cIOsc 50 : ldom encountered nowadays in rca! life
ls ~ be peculiarly attractive III fiction.
Mr.. 10 NOT DEEPLY IMPRESSED.